SCHOOL STAFFING

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1934, Page 9

SCHOOL STAFFING

ATTITUDE OF MINISTER EDUCATION BOARD’S 1933 REPORT. WHAT WILL THE MINISTER DO? (To the Editor.) Sir,—Just exactly what attitude the new Minister of Education, the Hon. S. G. Smith, with his long experience of Education Board affairs and viewpoints, will take in connection with the present problems-of the teaching profession is a matter for much speculation. When the previous Minister, the Hon. R. Masters, issued his dictum against five-year-olds attending school, Mr. Smith was chairman of the Taranaki Education Board. Even then the effect on attendances, the grading of schools and the instability of staffing were becoming marked to a degree exasperating to the board, and it is interesting to read the chairman’s views on the problem as expressed in the Education Board report for 1933. I will quote them: “The total number of teachers in the board’s service on December 31, 1933, was: Head teachers, 81; sole teachers. 93; assistants, 173; substituted rationed assistants, 24; special class assistants, 2; additional assistants, 8; agricultural instructors, 3; woodwork instructors, 4; cookery instructresses, 4; total, 392. “The general unrest among teachers, and the instability of the staffs of schools is one of the worst features of the primary system, and undoubtedly adversely affects the children who are the raison d’etre of the schools and whose interests should be the first and foremost consideration. “The staff changes during 1933 are only slightly less than in 1932, which was probably the worst on record. Fortyeight teachers resigned to take up positions elsewhere; 111 teachers were appointed to permanent positions; 25 teachers were transferred from one position to another as required by the Act or Regulations; 100 junior teachers were changed around every one or two terms as provided in the department’s rationed scheme; 70 relieving teachers were appointed primarily to act in place of the 172 teachers who were granted leave of absence for one cause or another. “Thus over 200 changes in a staff of only 392 teachers were involved! “The root of the trouble is easily traced, and can only be rectified by a drastic revision of the regulations for payment of salaries and grading of schools. My board recommends this for serious consideration, believing that the present is the most propitious time to institute the necessary legislation.” That was eleven months ago. Now that Mr. Smith is in a position to forward the “necessary legislation,” With the profession in worst “unrest," will he take as his motto, “res non verba?”—l am, etc., CURIOUS. New Plymouth, Nov. 30. A BUSINESS GOVERNMENT. (To the Editor.) Sir,—lt has been said that tourists will always have "the Chateau Tongariro included in their New Zealand tours because it is a Government-owned resort. We also hear that at any rate one of the Egmont committees is in difficulties with the running of its hostel. Might it not be a good idea if this hostel were handed over to the Government? Perhaps then tourists would cometo Taranaki in increasing numbers.—l am, etC " BRAINWAVE. New Plymouth, Nov. 29. LOCAL BODY BY-LAWS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—There are few local bodies that escape the cost and worry of having their by-laws attacked in the Courts on the ground that such by-laws are ultra vires or unreasonable. The Local Government Act of South Australia, just passed into law, aims at coming to the aid of local bodies in this respect. Henceforward, all by-laws in that State will be submitted- to the Crown Solicitor who will, if satisfie'. that such by-laws are not ultra vires, give a certificate to that effect. If he refuses to give such certificate the by-laws may be laid before a Judge of the Supreme Court, who may give or refuse a like certificate. If the Judge approves of the by-laws, they are to be laid before Parliament, and if passed into law are not thereafter to be impeachable on the grounds of being ultra vires. While the enactment was in the Bill stage, it was urged in its favour that here was an atempt to reduce litigation by preventing disputes from arising. On the other hand, it was urged that the procedure contained traces of that bureaucratic control against which protests have lately been made. Lawyers do not repose much confidence in answers given by the judiciary to abstract questions unsupported by facts. It will be remembered that when McNaghten was tried for the shooting of Mr. Drummond, Sir Robert Peel’s secretary, he was found not guilty on the grounds of insanity, and that the Parliament of the day addressed a questionnaire to the Judges of the High Court on the abstract question of what degree of insanity would excuse a criminal. The questionnaire was answered, but the answers have since been doubted by writers because of the absence of a basis of concrete facts.—l am, etc., LEX. Hawera, Nov. 30. EXAMINATION SUPERVISION. (To the Editor.) • •Sir,—Miss D. N.; Allan, principal of the Girls’ High School, has drawn the attention of the High School Board to the feeling of dissatisfaction among candidates sitting for recent examinations. In your issue of 29th. inst a letter appears signed “Chief Supervisor,” which attempts to explain by stating that those who sat for the examination had no chance of passing. Was this any reason why they should not be given helpful consideration in the way of freedom from distracting noises such as a prolonged conversation which . any brain worker will agree would be fatal to concentration? “Chief Supervisor’s” letter concludes with a plea of injustice, and says that the allegations of misconduct were possibly the hysterical statements of defeated candidates. If -this applies to the recent examinations how can candidates know they have not been successful until papers have been marked? There is also a statement of qualification for the position, “Chief Supervisor” having an Honours Degree of London University. But does such a qualification include the qualities essential for the position?—l am, etc., P. J. R. WARREN. New Plymouth, Nov. 30. . : >